More News On Ricoh Train Station (9 Viewers)

[georgehudson]

well it's on bbc1 on midlands today in a mo, with little peter plisner

 

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[chiefdave]

The council secured money from the ERDF and DT based on what service level they were told that the train providers would give.

So presumably that ensured all that was included in a water tight contract and London Midland will be heavily penalised for failing to provide the contracted service. Or could it be that, as London Midland have stated today, they told CCC this might occur 5 years ago.

A spokesman for the train firm said: “We made it clear at the start of this, five years ago, those timetables were seen as an aspiration. We were clear additional stock would be a challenge.“There are no more diesel trains left in the UK and there are no more being built.”

 

[chiefdave]

well it's on bbc1 on midlands today in a mo, with little peter plisner

Like how he's decided to stand in the middle of the matchday crowd control barriers at the station to do the report.

 

[georgehudson]

a real coup, with little peter plisner, Lon Mid's billy bullshit francis thomas, & renegade bee gee relation andy gibb,
all giving out a pile of ****,
however, as you put forward CD, Lon Mid should be fined for breach of contract

 

[stupot07]

St07, which planet are you on ?
currently a day saver on w/mid buses is £3.90,
well i suppose that's something like £2.20,
& 2-3 minutes by car ? from where to where ?
utter tosh !!!!

From Bedworth to the Ricoh as per the post I was replying to. 2-3 minutes.

Tbf I haven't been on the bus for a while. Last time was 2-3 years ago, so obviously the fair has gone up a bit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors

 

[fernandopartridge]

I suggest you retract your original post and admit it's a major council Fuck Up

It isn't, and I have no time for CCC. They delivered on their part by obtaining the money from DFT and ERDF. The fact there isn't sufficient trains to run isn't the council's fault.

Also European money is provided in 7 year programmes, the last one being 07-13 which is where the council got the grant. One of the stipulations of the grant would be it being spent by a target date.

 

[RegTheDonk]

Is there anything stopping a different operator putting on trains during "events" and charging a few quid for the trip, or does London Midland have exclusive use of the line?

Perhaps a few carriages could shuttle between Cov and the Ricoh in between the regular service, a bit like they do between Stourbridge Town and Junction? If memory serves you can drive it from either end of the train, so when the driver gets to one end he goes down the other end of the train to drive back. I know nothing about trains so apologies if I'm suggesting utter crap.

 

[skybluetony176]

Is there anything stopping a different operator putting on trains during "events" and charging a few quid for the trip, or does London Midland have exclusive use of the line?

Perhaps a few carriages could shuttle between Cov and the Ricoh in between the regular service, a bit like they do between Stourbridge Town and Junction? If memory serves you can drive it from either end of the train, so when the driver gets to one end he goes down the other end of the train to drive back. I know nothing about trains so apologies if I'm suggesting utter crap.

I think the problem is a lack of diesel rolling stock. The line was supposed to be electrified by now but isn't and doesn't look likely to be until 2017.

 

[David O'Day]

So presumably that ensured all that was included in a water tight contract and London Midland will be heavily penalised for failing to provide the contracted service. Or could it be that, as London Midland have stated today, they told CCC this might occur 5 years ago.

[/COLOR]

Utter tripe

CCC did there job and got the ERDF And DFT money.

 

[chiefdave]

Utter tripe

How is it utter tripe? You yourself stated:

The council secured money from the ERDF and DT based on what service level they were told that the train providers would give.

So CCC committed to spend public money to improve rail infrastructure based on a level of service they were told the train providers would give. That public money has now been spent and the service will not be provided.

CCC did there job and got the ERDF And DFT money.

Only if you think the job of CCC is to build a station that can't be used for its intended purpose.

The originally proposed service on match days equates to approx 2.5K capacity an hour, we are now told it is 75 per hour except match days when it is 0. Imagine if you worked in the private second and spent millions of your employers money to deliver a similar result, do you think they would agree with you that the job had been done properly?

To me it seems there's two possible scenarios.

1) London Midland did promise the higher level of service. In this scenario this should have been contract prior to a penny of public money being spent with reimbursement of public money should the promised service then fail to materialise.

2) London Midland didn't promise the higher level of service. In this scenario you really have to question the council allow such a high spend on a project that brings no benefit.

 

[SimonGilbert]

Simon must be having a field day, this story is the gift that keeps on giving. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see this picked up by the nationals.

You could say that! Been a busy old day. All the updates are here: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/authors/simon-gilbert/

If you care what I think (I'm not sure many people do), my views are here: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/opinion-ricoh-arena-station-problem-9925829

It has made the nationals too. Let's hope it gets sorted ASAP. It's, frankly, embarrassing for Coventry.

 

[fernandopartridge]

How is it utter tripe? You yourself stated:



So CCC committed to spend public money to improve rail infrastructure based on a level of service they were told the train providers would give. That public money has now been spent and the service will not be provided.



Only if you think the job of CCC is to build a station that can't be used for its intended purpose.

The originally proposed service on match days equates to approx 2.5K capacity an hour, we are now told it is 75 per hour except match days when it is 0. Imagine if you worked in the private second and spent millions of your employers money to deliver a similar result, do you think they would agree with you that the job had been done properly?

To me it seems there's two possible scenarios.

1) London Midland did promise the higher level of service. In this scenario this should have been contract prior to a penny of public money being spent with reimbursement of public money should the promised service then fail to materialise.

2) London Midland didn't promise the higher level of service. In this scenario you really have to question the council allow such a high spend on a project that brings no benefit.

You're brighter than this. It's not CCC's money. They had to bid for it (from the managing authority of the ERDF - DCLG I think), part of the bid is that the subject matter has to be delivered (European progs I was involved in allowed delivery til 2015).

Therefore, the funding for the station was contingent on building it by x date. It had to be built even if the service didn't exist. For example, in Manchester a tram station was built using ERDF money some 7 years before it came to public use.

The real enemies are the MPs of most colours who continue with the fallacy of a privatised railway system. Ignoring that privatisation is the root cause of this fragmentation lets them off the hook.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

The real enemies are the MPs of most colours who continue with the fallacy of a privatised railway system. Ignoring that privatisation is the route of this fragmentation lets them off the hook.

Yep, I was trying to go down the political route but, tbf, it's more of the same from a different angle to that which insists a community asset has to turn a profit. Here it's depending on operators who the local authority has little control or influence over... and London Midland are renowned for their ineptitude anyway!

That said, it certainly does look feeble in the extreme. The good thing is if it gets a bit of attention, something might be done about it. Kevin Maton is not helping himself on twitter claiming that people will flock to use the station to go to the retail park, when let's face it the whole point is because there's a football (nearly forgot :facepalm: ) ground there.

The other ridiculous thing is the parking restrictions all very laudible as the intention was always there'd be as many options of public transport as possible. It's a lack of joined-up thinking but as much because the organisation of such things gets fragmented and put in the hands of the many.

 

[chiefdave]

You're brighter than this. It's not CCC's money. They had to bid for it (from the managing authority of the ERDF - DCLG I think), part of the bid is that the subject matter has to be delivered (European progs I was involved in allowed delivery til 2015).

I didn't say it was CCC's money, I said it was public money. Or does it materialise out of thin air?

 

[georgehudson]

i would hope SG that you act with vigour with this Frank Thomas character, who in his tv interview came across as a smug individual who couldn't give a dam about customers,
hardly something that you would expect,
indeed London Midland, if he is their spokesperson, look a dreadful company

 

[skybluetony176]

The real enemies are the MPs of most colours who continue with the fallacy of a privatised railway system. Ignoring that privatisation is the root cause of this fragmentation lets them off the hook.

Like we said earlier in this thread. If you're someone who would like the opportunity to use the station on a regular basis write to your MP. Mr Pawsey had an email from me earlier this evening. That's what they're there for use them.

Having now had chance to read up on the knuckle project to as far back as 2013 it's pretty clear that the only way that we're going to be able to use it on match days is if the knuckles project is completed and the line gets electrified.

 

[fernandopartridge]

I didn't say it was CCC's money, I said it was public money. Or does it materialise out of thin air?

What's your point? It is public money and it's been spent in a piece of public infrastructure.

The fact that your elected MPs permit spending on such infrastructure knowing it can't be used to its greatest extent....?

I can't blame CCC in this case, they've worked hard to get the funding and build the station, they can't be blamed directly for the ridiculous privatised rail system.

Though I did see that the finance member is anti-Corbyn, so perhaps even on a local level they've been hijacked by clueless academics who have no real political philosophy apart from wanting to be in a position of power.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Like we said earlier in this thread. If you're someone who would like the opportunity to use the station on a regular basis write to your MP. Mr Pawsey had an email from me earlier this evening. That's what they're there for use them.

Problem is, it's going to be a bit irrelevant for Mr. Pawsey other than in the most tenuous sense.

That said, despite being the wrong political colour his dad was actually a pretty decent local MP, so it's a chance for him to show he lives up to the name...

 

[chiefdave]

I think the problem is a lack of diesel rolling stock. The line was supposed to be electrified by now but isn't and doesn't look likely to be until 2017.

If Wiki is to be believed London Midland have a sizable amount of diesel rolling stock. Given that the majority of matches are weekends and most lines operate a reduced service at weekends, meaning not all the rolling stock is being used, would it not be possible to divert some over here?

 

[RegTheDonk]

I think the problem is a lack of diesel rolling stock. The line was supposed to be electrified by now but isn't and doesn't look likely to be until 2017.

Yes I read that Tony - but is that saying it's a national issue, or is it London Midland who haven't got any spare trains?

 

[skybluetony176]

If Wiki is to be believed London Midland have a sizable amount of diesel rolling stock. Given that the majority of matches are weekends and most lines operate a reduced service at weekends, meaning not all the rolling stock is being used, would it not be possible to divert some over here?

Don't know. I'm not big enough to be a fat controller.

 

[Hobo]

Surely rail company is biggest culprit? Having a station funded to access shopping centre and a sports arena with a rugby and a football team, both can pull crowds between 10000 and 28000 on their day. Then they wonder why people are reluctant to travel by train? It's because these companies can't provide a service to meet the demand.

 

[wingy]

I think the problem is a lack of diesel rolling stock. The line was supposed to be electrified by now but isn't and doesn't look likely to be until 2017.

Nor likely to be by the end of this Parliament
due to Gideons most recent cutbacks, specifically In this sector and on that very project Nationally.

 

[Sick Boy]

Have I? Where?

Come on Tony. Just admit that the council are about as competent as Sisu.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Hobo - don't hate the player hate the game. They get a relatively short contract, shareholders don't want to wait for a return. The company doesn't own trains so have to lease them. They can't invest in new leases because the franchise is up soon and have no other spare lines on which to use the stock outside of peak. Also use their current staff to the max. The trains are owned by investment banks.

All these are privatisation issues of fragmentation, the companies are the symptom.

 

[Sick Boy]

Utter tripe

CCC did there job and got the ERDF And DFT money.

You must be being paying a good wage for working at this time.

 

[Hobo]

Hobo - don't hate the player hate the game. They get a relatively short contract, shareholders don't want to wait for a return. The company doesn't own trains so have to lease them. They can't invest in new leases because the franchise is up soon and have no other spare lines on which to use the stock outside of peak. Also use their current staff to the max. The trains are owned by investment banks.

All these are privatisation issues of fragmentation, the companies are the symptom.

I will blame the government then

 

[Grendel]

Hobo - don't hate the player hate the game. They get a relatively short contract, shareholders don't want to wait for a return. The company doesn't own trains so have to lease them. They can't invest in new leases because the franchise is up soon and have no other spare lines on which to use the stock outside of peak. Also use their current staff to the max. The trains are owned by investment banks.

All these are privatisation issues of fragmentation, the companies are the symptom.

Who fed the 4 trains an hour line to the CET?

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/work-new-coventry-railway-station-7888550

 

[skybluepm2]

Sadly I don't think the new station will be appearing on the programme just starting on BBC2 anytime soon....

 

[wingy]

Sadly I don't think the new station will be appearing on the programme just starting on BBC2 anytime soon....

Haha........
Give It another 10-15 years and what has been promised may just mstrrialise.
That's how It works Isn't It?

 

[wingy]

Edit materialize

 

[Deleted member 5849]

Haha........
Give It another 10-15 years and what has been promised may just mstrrialise.
That's how It works Isn't It?

Nah, it'll be closed down because user numbers are below predictions, that's how it usually works!

 

[skybluetony176]

Come on Tony. Just admit that the council are about as competent as Sisu.

Nowhere then.

 

[wingy]

Sadly I don't think the new station will be appearing on the programme just starting on BBC2 anytime soon....

There have been a plethora of these programs ,however anything with Anita Rani or Liz Bonin In gets my vote.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Nah, it'll be closed down because user numbers are below predictions, that's how it usually works!

Trains will only call there on weekdays due to limited or unpredictable weekend demand